Walt Disney World Turns 50, Magic, Memories and More!

on September 30, 2021

On October 1st, 1971, guests made there way into a park that had a familiar feel to its older Disneyland counterpart but was grander and different in many ways. Walt Disney dreams of big things with the 47 square miles of property that he purchased in Central Florida. Unfortunately he never got to see those aspirations come true. His brother Roy wouldn’t give up though and honored his brother with the opening of Walt Disney World Resort. From Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness, Polynesian Village Resort, the Contemporary and more. This vacation kingdom changed the world forever. Millions have made their way through the now four theme parks, two water parks, dozens of resort hotels, and Disney Springs.

Today, October 1st, 2021, we celebrate the 50th year of this magical place. So many aspects have changed for better or worse. The parks have grown and evolved in ways many would have never dreamed as well. Disney fans are very hard to please when it comes to almost anything these days but one thing is for sure, this place has brought us together and made memories that last a life time.

For me, Walt Disney World is my second home. Since I was just eight months old in 1999 I have been trekking down from Wisconsin to the sunny and humid swamps of Orlando. It really was not until a trip in the summer of 2012 where I truly fell in love with this place. My mom was the one who really got myself and my family into Disney in the first place. Her first visit to Walt Disney World was in 1973 and went every year after for several years. Now, I am an annual passholder, go several times a year and have the pleasure to have a position that revolves about around “The Most Magical Place on Earth.”

Walt Disney World and Disney may not always do things I think are best but that is okay. We as Disney fans are some of the harshest critics and hold the company to extremely high standards. One thing I won’t take for granted are the friendships and experiences that Walt Disney World has allowed me to have. Some of my best friends today don’t live near me but are my best friends because of this one place we all love. If it wasn’t for this magical place, I wouldn’t know any of these people and certainly wouldn’t be writing this article right now.

If there is one thing to take away from this celebration, whether you like the contents of it or not, it is the recognization that Walt Disney World is special. It is a place where people from under one to over 100 can come together and make memories that will last a lifetime. So, here is to the last 50 years of Walt Disney World and the many decades to come. Enjoy this magical celebration Disney fans.